<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">Elevated pricing in the fourth quarter comes as shippers on the westbound trade lane prepare for annual long-term rate negotiations with carriers. </div>

Elevated pricing in the fourth quarter comes as shippers on the westbound trade lane prepare for annual long-term rate negotiations with carriers.

Feature image

Container lines

Asia-Europe

Container Shipping News

Maritime

Asia-Europe demand, congestion support rates ahead of ocean contract talks

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">The financing is meant to grow the NYSHEX Freight Index, which is used to price index-linked ocean freight contracts and four futures contracts that were launched in April on the Intercontinental Exchange. </div>

The financing is meant to grow the NYSHEX Freight Index, which is used to price index-linked ocean freight contracts and four futures contracts that were launched in April on the Intercontinental Exchange.

Logistics Technology News

Supply chain

NYSHEX to expand futures contract pricing reach with new funding

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">Supply chains, particularly in Asia, are only just recovering from delays and port congestion caused in large part by severe storms in Asia between July and September. </div>

Supply chains, particularly in Asia, are only just recovering from delays and port congestion caused in large part by severe storms in Asia between July and September.

Pre-Lunar New Year cargo surge could bring congestion, delays: Yang Ming

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">While the Journal of Commerce TCI for the third quarter rose to its highest reading since the fourth quarter of 2023, the increase doesn’t reflect a broader trend in truck capacity. </div>

While the Journal of Commerce TCI for the third quarter rose to its highest reading since the fourth quarter of 2023, the increase doesn’t reflect a broader trend in truck capacity.

Trucking News

Truckload

Surface

Additional trucks at large US carriers boost Truckload Capacity Index

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">Original equipment manufacturers could better identify cargo risks and relay them sooner to customers if project forwarders are consulted before contracts are finalized, attendees at an industry conference were told. </div>

Original equipment manufacturers could better identify cargo risks and relay them sooner to customers if project forwarders are consulted before contracts are finalized, attendees at an industry conference were told.

Project cargo

Breakbulk News

Forwarders need to be brought into project cargo conversations earlier: shippers

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">Opinions remain divided over whether the excess tonnage will drive a market downturn or be absorbed by widespread network disruption and capacity management strategies.</div>

Opinions remain divided over whether the excess tonnage will drive a market downturn or be absorbed by widespread network disruption and capacity management strategies.

Fast-growing order book looms over container shipping industry

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">Singapore reclaiming its port dominance requires shifting from a passive facilitator of ships to an active orchestrator of global supply chains — a transformation that cannot be led from ministerial corridors alone, writes Dr. Raymon Krishnan. </div>

Singapore reclaiming its port dominance requires shifting from a passive facilitator of ships to an active orchestrator of global supply chains — a transformation that cannot be led from ministerial corridors alone, writes Dr. Raymon Krishnan.

International ports

Rethinking Singapore’s maritime strategy amid supply chain orchestration

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">Chronic inland congestion and structural bottlenecks have fundamentally shifted this power dynamic, upping the need for port authorities to be more active to support the port ecosystem, writes Robbert van Trooijen. </div>

Chronic inland congestion and structural bottlenecks have fundamentally shifted this power dynamic, upping the need for port authorities to be more active to support the port ecosystem, writes Robbert van Trooijen.

Port News

Port infrastructure

North American ports

Port authorities must evolve beyond passive landlords

Spot Truckload Shipper Rates

Spot Intermodal Shipper Rates

 Intermodal ${valueY.formatNumber('#.##')}

The Journal of Commerce Intermodal Savings Indices (ISIs) measure the average differential between rates for US domestic intermodal rail and truckload service — both spot and contract — across 120 lanes by sending estimates to third-party logistics providers (3PLs) and shippers to review. The estimates include margins and fuel but exclude accessorial charges such as detention, demurrage (storage fees), excessive per diem, lumper fees and other fees. ISI data partners include DAT Freight & Analytics, the International Association of North America (IANA), InTek Freight and Logistics, Loadsmart, and Sunset Transport.

US domestic intermodal spot savings index (JOC)

JOC ISI Spot Market Rates Gateway

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">And CEO Vincent Clerc indicated the current high-rate environment bodes well for 2027 contract renewals, especially on the Asia-Europe trade.</div>

And CEO Vincent Clerc indicated the current high-rate environment bodes well for 2027 contract renewals, especially on the Asia-Europe trade.

Maersk raises earnings guidance for third time on freight rates, strong Q4 outlook

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">China’s most important holiday begins on Feb. 6, 11 days earlier than this year, which will prompt exporters to lock in bookings sooner and push up rates, analysts and forwarders say.</div>

China’s most important holiday begins on Feb. 6, 11 days earlier than this year, which will prompt exporters to lock in bookings sooner and push up rates, analysts and forwarders say.

Early Lunar New Year set to drive up December ocean demand on Asia-Europe

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">The railroad is metering the movement of containers destined for inland hubs in order not to overwhelm the terminals with cargo; it could be another week before service returns to normal.</div>

The railroad is metering the movement of containers destined for inland hubs in order not to overwhelm the terminals with cargo; it could be another week before service returns to normal.

Rail News

North-American rail

Intermodal providers

BNSF boosts New Mexico manpower to manage freight flow after flood

Use code GTT26W at checkout and save $900 on first year of an annual Gold subscription!

Upgrade Subscription - Gold Trials

Become a Gold Subscriber and Save!

Arm your team with the most trusted information portal for the international container shipping industry.

Group Subscriptions - Wide Box

Get into a group subscription today

Use code FFTW25 at checkout to save 25% on a Silver or Silver Plus annual subscription! 

Subscribe Now - FT to S/SP - Wide Box

FALL SALE

Use code GW595 and upgrade to Gold for just $595! Valid for first year of subscription.

Upgrade Subscription - S/SP to Gold - Wide Box

UPGRADE AND SAVE

Use code FW25 at checkout and save 25% on a Silver or Silver Plus annual subscription!

Subscribe Now - Anonymous to S/SP - Wide Box

Access Journal of Commerce content for 30 days

Free Trial - Wide Box

START A FREE TRIAL TODAY

Use code FFTGW995 at checkout to save $600 on first year of a Gold subscription!

Subscribe Now - FT to Gold - Wide Box

Use code FGW995 at checkout and save $500 on a Gold annual subscription!

Subscribe Now - Anonymous to Gold - Wide Box

Samsung SDS combines integrated shipment data, predictive technology and logistics execution to help shippers respond to disruption and manage costs. A container delayed at sea can disrupt a much larger plan on land. Truck appointments may need to move, warehouse labor may be scheduled against the wrong arrival date, and inventory expected for a customer order may remain out of reach. The cost of disruption builds as each downstream decision falls out of step. For ocean shippers, that uncertainty remains substantial. Sea-Intelligence reported global vessel schedule reliability of 49.9% in August 2026, with late vessel arrivals averaging 6.81 days behind schedule.[1] Managing this environment requires reliable information and a clear way to act on it. An alert has operational value when teams can establish which cargo is affected, what the delay means for the business, and which alternatives are feasible. Samsung SDS brings these requirements together through data-driven global control tower operations supported by its logistics technology and execution capabilities. Its Global Control Center monitors shipments around the clock, with control tower teams responding to disruptions across a service offering that spans international transportation, inland movements, warehousing and final delivery.[2] Building a reliable view of the shipment Shipment information can sit across carrier portals, transport systems, warehouse records and email. Reconciling those updates takes time, especially when a shipment moves between providers or modes. A useful end-to-end view needs to connect those milestones and keep the information current enough to support the next decision. Data quality matters as much as coverage. Teams need to understand whether a milestone is confirmed, whether an estimate has changed and how recently a record was updated. Without that foundation, staff can spend valuable response time reconciling conflicting updates before they can decide what to do. Samsung SDS’s Cello Square platform uses AI to calculate estimated times of arrival (ETAs) from vessel transit times, port dwell times and congestion data. Predictive estimates give operators an additional basis for planning as conditions change. The company has also developed capabilities to detect potential transshipment and unloading issues.[3] Samsung SDS reports ETA prediction accuracy of approximately 95%. For shippers, the practical value of a more dependable forecast is the opportunity to adjust receiving and transportation plans earlier.[4] Port skip detection can flag when a vessel is likely to omit a scheduled call, giving teams time to reassess the shipment’s route and delivery plan.[2, 5] Connecting risk detection with an operational response A global control tower needs to connect a developing event with the cargo it could affect. Samsung SDS uses AI to assess logistics risks, identify exposed shipments and notify the relevant customers and operators. Logistics specialists then assess the consequences and coordinate a response.[3, 5] That process brings commercial priorities into the decision. Consider a potential port omission: teams may need to weigh the cost and timing of unloading elsewhere against accepting a longer transit. They must also consider inland transport availability, warehouse receiving capacity and the customer’s delivery requirements. The recommended route has to work beyond the ocean leg. Prioritization matters, too. A delay affecting a replenishment order with inventory on hand may call for a different response from one affecting a component needed for production. Linking shipment status to the shipper’s operating requirements helps teams concentrate effort where a delay would have the greatest impact. A case described by Samsung SDS shows what that can mean in practice. After detecting a potential skipped call at Genoa, the company arranged unloading at La Spezia and connected the cargo with inland transportation. Samsung SDS says the response avoided transportation delays for the customer.[5] The value is in the coordination. Changing the discharge port only solves part of the problem if the onward truck, receiving slot and delivery commitment remain tied to the original plan. An integrated operating model allows those decisions to be considered together. Giving operators more time to manage exceptions The capacity to respond also depends on how logistics teams spend their time. Samsung SDS is applying AI and automation to routine processes, including order creation and proof-of-delivery handling. Its published workflows describe automatically registering bookings from emailed shipping documents and flagging discrepancies for staff review.[6, 7] For proof of delivery, the company has applied optical character recognition to reduce manual processing. These tools help keep operational records current while reducing the effort needed to collect and enter information.[7] That gives operators more room to investigate a loading constraint, coordinate an alternative route or resolve a delivery exception. It also supports the control tower by reducing administrative work around the decisions that require human judgment. Over time, reviewing recurring exceptions can also reveal where a route, loading process or delivery handoff needs improvement. Those findings give operators a basis for changing the underlying process and reducing repeated interventions. For shippers, useful measures include the time from an alert to an agreed response, manual processing effort and the cost of exceptions. Tracking those outcomes helps establish whether investment in visibility and automation is improving daily operations. Samsung SDS’s approach connects that investment with the people and processes responsible for moving the freight. By combining integrated data, predictive technology and global logistics execution, the company helps shippers carry a decision through to delivery, with the operational follow-through needed to protect service commitments and control costs.

Image1.jpg

Turning logistics visibility into action with global control towers

FALL SALE: Use code FFTW25 to save 25% on first year of a Silver or Silver Plus annual subscription!


Subscribe Now - FT to S/SP - Offer Box

Subscribe and Save

GET INTO A GROUP SUBSCRIPTION: Arm your team with unlimited Journal of Commerce content

Group Subscriptions - Offer Box

Group Subscriptions

FALL SALE: Use code FW25 at checkout and save 25% on a Silver or Silver Plus annual subscription!

Subscribe Now - Anonymous to S/SP - Offer Box

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

UPGRADE TO GOLD AND SAVE: Use code GTT26W at checkout and save $900 on first year of a Gold subscription!

Upgrade Subscription

FALL SALE: Use code FGW995 at checkout and save $500 on a Gold annual subscription!

Subscribe Now - Anonymous to Gold - Offer Box

UPGRADE AND SAVE: Use code GW595 and upgrade to Gold for just $595! Valid on first year of subscription.

Upgrade Subscription - S/SP to Gold - Offer Box

FALL SALE: Use code FFTGW995 and save $500 on the first year of a Gold subscription!

Subscribe Now - FT to Gold - Offer Box

SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE

Monthly publication providing an editorial deep dive into global supply chain news

Journal of Commerce Magazine - Rectangle Box

Journal of Commerce Magazine

A premium access index of savings using domestic intermodal vs. OTR 

ISI Report - Rectangle Box

Intermodal Savings Index

An in-depth analysis of transport trends in the multipurpose and heavy-lift fleet segment

Breakbulk Report - Rectangle Box

Breakbulk Quarterly

An extensive dashboard of charts organized by trade lane, mode, and topic

Gateway - Rectangle Box

Gateway

Customers scoring their intermodal partners to identify the best service providers

Intermodal Service Scorecard - Rectangle Box

Intermodal Service Scorecard

A premium access outlook critical to shippers and transportation providers

QI Report - Rectangle Box

Quarterly Intelligence

The premier conference for the global container shipping and supply chain community

TPM Conference - Rectangle Box

Attend TPM27

The only editorially independent conference for the breakbulk & project cargo industry

Breakbulk Conference - Rectangle Box

Attend Breakbulk27

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">The fresh extension came after the two sides negotiated late into Friday night ahead of the latest deadline of midnight PT.</div>

The fresh extension came after the two sides negotiated late into Friday night ahead of the latest deadline of midnight PT.

Marine terminals

Longshore labor

PMA, ILWU Local 26 extend contract to Nov. 20 as talks continue

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">The fresh extension came after the Pacific Maritime Association and ILWU Local 26 failed to reach a new deal after negotiating late into Wednesday evening. </div>

The fresh extension came after the Pacific Maritime Association and ILWU Local 26 failed to reach a new deal after negotiating late into Wednesday evening.

Strike deadline at LA-LB ports delayed again through midnight Friday

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">The railroad says the comments threatening higher rates against those who oppose the NS merger were made in jest, but others argue they amounted to threats of retaliation that have prevented shippers from speaking out against the deal. </div>

The railroad says the comments threatening higher rates against those who oppose the NS merger were made in jest, but others argue they amounted to threats of retaliation that have prevented shippers from speaking out against the deal.

UP CEO Vena under fire for ‘offhand comment’ about Norfolk Southern deal

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">Freight delays unwind on different clocks, and the gaps between those clocks decide who profits, writes Paul Tonsager.</div>

Freight delays unwind on different clocks, and the gaps between those clocks decide who profits, writes Paul Tonsager.

Trans-Pacific

Container delays generate revenue for different parties at each stop: analyst

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">The National Retail Federation said US ports in September ended up handling 2.37 million TEUs, making it the busiest month of 2026 and the third-busiest in the history of its Global Port Tracker. </div>

The National Retail Federation said US ports in September ended up handling 2.37 million TEUs, making it the busiest month of 2026 and the third-busiest in the history of its Global Port Tracker.

Asia-Europe demand, congestion support rates ahead of ocean contract talks

Featured Gateway Chart

Essential Reads

Maersk raises earnings guidance for third time on freight rates, strong Q4 outlook

Early Lunar New Year set to drive up December ocean demand on Asia-Europe

BNSF boosts New Mexico manpower to manage freight flow after flood

Recent Commentary

Rethinking Singapore’s maritime strategy amid supply chain orchestration

Port authorities must evolve beyond passive landlords

Top 5 Most Read Stories